WINNIPEG — The warm weather over the weekend may have stirred up some spring fever, but as the ground thaws and temperatures rise, so does the city’s pesky pothole problem.
Manitoba Public Insurance said there have been a handful of claims related to pothole damage so far this season. There are typically more than 1,000 claims a year, MPI said.
Tips to protect your car
The public insurer offered some tips Monday for driving on cratered streets:
- Reduce the vehicle speed when approaching a pothole. The greater the speed usually results in more severity in damage.
- Do not swerve; you might hit a vehicle beside you.
- Try to avoid driving in a lane which is water covered; potholes could be under the water.
- Check your tires; make sure they are properly inflated and have enough tread.
READ MORE: Be prepared to dodge at lot more potholes in Winnipeg this spring
City patching potholes
Crews are out patching potholes throughout the city Monday trying to improve road conditions, focusing on repairing main streets and bus routes.
“As temperatures continue to warm up next week, we will be ramping up our pothole patching operations,” a city spokesperson said. “Usually more potholes appear when daytime highs are above zero and overnight lows are below zero.”
Although March and April are the worst for potholes on city streets, the craters came earlier this year because of the warmer winter weather.
Pothole patching crews were already out at the beginning of February to try and smooth out the roads.
Last year the city’s budget to repair potholes was around $1.8 million.
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